collier

The collier could be either USS Orion (AC-11) or sister ship USS Jason (AC-12). However, since this is one photo among those taken during Al Boileau's (USNA 1926) midshipmen's cruise to Europe in the summer of 1923, this would have to be USS Orion (AC-11) with USS North Dakota (BB-29). The midshipmen cruise to Europe in the summer of 1923 included the battleships USS Delaware (BB-28), USS Arkansas (BB-33), USS Florida (BB-30) and USS North Dakota (BB-29). The cruise began from Hampton Roads on June 9th, making port calls at Copenhagen, Denmark; Greenock, Scotland; Cadiz, Spain; and Gibraltar, concluding at Annapolis on August 28th. This would be the last hurrah as capital ships for both USS Delaware and USS North Dakota, as the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty required their decommissioning upon the completion USS Colorado (BB-45) and USS West Virginia (BB-48), then under construction. Accordingly, Delaware was decommissioned on August 30, 1923, as was North Dakota on November 22nd of that year. During the spring and summer of 1923, USS Jason (AC-12) was sailing the Pacific. In fact, there's a photo of Jason dockside delivering Douglas DT-2 Torpedo Bombers to Pearl Harbor on July 18, 1923 (US Navy photo # NH 52195 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center). Since Jason was in San Diego on May 5, 1923, that makes it a virtual certainty that it is USS Orion (AC-11) captured in the photo above. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_North_Dakota_(BB-29) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Delaware_(BB-28) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Orion_(AC-11) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jason_(AC-12)

Name s/b MILAZZO for this and other photos in this series. SS Milazzo was an Italian bulk carrier built in 1916 and sunk during World War I. When she entered service, Milazzo was reported as the largest collier and also the largest cargo ship in the world. She was designed with a unique railcar and elevator system that helped to automate the discharge of cargo. [1]

Pixel Wrangler That Wikipedia link needs some repair. Looks like Milazzo arrived in NY on July 1, 1916 on her maiden voyage.

Art Siegel Fixed. Thanks.

Thanks to both of you for the information, and spelling correction. We'll make the changes to the records the next time we update.

A report about the ship and her arrival in New York is in The Washington times., July 02, 1916, SUNDAY EVENING EDITION, Image 13, last column, "Biggest Freighter Hereon Maiden Trip", chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1916-07-02/ed-....

See notes under